I read there are several varieties of Yuzu. I'm more interested about the seedless variety, but i don't know if it is a true yuzu... In Europe i don't see the yuzu varieties, just the usual one... any help?

Hi everyone. I want to start one paw paw production farm here in my country. I'm totaly obcessed by this fabulously nutritious, healing and versatile fruit! It's possible to do so much things with paw paws that i see it can be very profitable if the project is made correctly. First i'm selecting 10 to 15 diferent paw paw varieties to make a second selection when they get fruit. For fruit selling i thing the best var will be the ones of medium size less seeds, and good not too strong flavour and no bad aftertaste. For pulp extraction, varieties presenting big size, fewer seeds and excelent taste. It's possible a blending of several varieties maby.I have to start to grow many seedlings from seed. Now i don't know the best rotstock varieties. I think i will have my first fruits from my two big sunflower paw paws... i have many ideas... any thoughts?

Some call them the new "blood diamonds." In Mexico, where the world of crime is dominated by drug cartels and arms trafficking, avocados are becoming the center of a new war

Whenever we eat a delicious avocado, whether in its version of fruit or in guacamole, its most popular gastronomic version, we think of the richness of its flavor, of being healthy, even a "superfood." But we certainly never think that this fruit could be at the center of a crime wave. Well, be aware: since the demand for so-called "green gold" has skyrocketed worldwide (in Spain, in 2015, more than 81500 tonnes of avocados have been consumed, in the USA this number amounts to an impressive 1.9 thousand Million tons), the value of this fruit came to attract the attention of criminal groups. Still in 2013, the world production of avocado had been of 4,717,102 tons.

In Mexico, the largest avocado producer - the country accounts for 33% of world production - there is a real war between cartels contesting the dominance of "green gold" plantations. The region of Michoacán, where most of the plantations are concentrated, is the most affected.

The drug cartel "Cabelleros Templarios" (Knights Templar) has infiltrated the sector and now controls all local trade, from production to distribution. The estimated profits of this business were 152 million dollars (144 million euros) a year - which allows us to understand why it is so coveted. Farmers are forced to pay huge amounts of money to the cartels, who threaten to kill their families. Thus, they are forced to act outside the law, hiding the avocados among the trees, deforesting acres of land without end or setting fires to plant the fruit afterwards.

Members of the drug cartel "Cabelleros Templários" caught by the police. This is the main cartel that took over the avocado business in Mexico, extorting farmersMembers of the drug cartel "Cabelleros Templários" caught by the police. This is the main cartel that took over the avocado business in Mexico, extorting farmers

In addition to becoming a luxury commodity, the massive cultivation of avocados also has enormous environmental implications, since it requires very high amounts of water - 242 liters for each kilo of fruit, more precisely. Its uncontrolled production also leads to the deforestation of 600 to 1000 hectares of forest in Mexico each year.

But it is not only in Mexico that there has been criminality regarding avocado. In New Zealand, more than 40 assaults have occurred this year. In the supermarkets of the country, posters warn the thieves that at night there is no money in the store ... or avocados.

As for you, what can you do when you eat avocados? Perceive the country of origin, avoiding buying Mexican avocados to be able to reduce the profits of this criminal business. And expect an environmental certificate seal to be placed on the market, ensuring that some avocados do not contribute to the destruction of the environment.http://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2017-01-01-Abacates-de-sangue

Please i nead some help to decide what mango varieties i should plant on my location. I'm on Zone 9 i gess, with the lowest temp -3C with cold wet winter until April, and with limestone soil but with good humus soil cover by big oak tree leaves. Some of mango varieties i saw as possibilities are Valencia Pride, Kasturi, Mallika, Kent, Nam Doc Mai, Sensation, Osteen and Glenn. Or other one? Any help to choose a good one for my location? Thank's!

I recently came across malabar chestnut sprouts while shopping at Upcountry Farmer's Market in Pukalani (Maui). I met a very enthusiastic young entrepreneur named Eric, who grows malabar chestnut sprouts. He grew up in a farming family on Hawaii. He said he learned to grow malabar chestnut from reading the old fashioned way--in his community library! He prefers to go there for information. He explained that he places the chestnuts in dry grass and waters them. One week later the sprouts are ready to eat! These sprouts have a fresh, crunchy, nutty taste and are absolutely delicious! If you are interested in finding Eric he is located in the back of the farmer's market overlooking the beautiful view of the West Maui mountains, he is there Saturday from 7 am to 12 noon. When you meet and talk to your community farmers they can tell you how they grow the produce. It is a lot of sweat, hard work and sometimes pain to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Please support your local farmers! Mahalo Eric for the tasty sprouts and for the education!!

All true cactus fruit is safe to eat -- but some taste better than others. Some taste best cooked, and most have to be peeled or otherwise have their spines removed before you put one in your mouth!

And, of course, everyone likes different things. So it's advisable to try some of the cactus you're considering before buying, to make sure you like it and aren't allergic.

Which edible cactus you choose depends on what you want to use it for and what look you want in your edible landscaping.

Many edible cacti belong to one of the 200+ Opuntia species, also known as the nopales, nopalitos, the cactus pear, or the paddle cactus.

The leaves and egg-shaped fruit (or "tunas") of all Opuntia are edible. You can identify Opuntia species by their oval, flat leaves or "paddles", covered with small spines.

The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is the most famous and well-loved of the edible cacti.

Also called the Indian fig, their leaves and fruit are very flavorful and are a staple of many dishes in Central America and the southwestern US. This cactus has been introduced into places as varied as Australia, northern Africa, and the Galapagos islands.

Opuntia are quite cold-tolerant (growing as far north as British Columbia) and in some places have become invasive, but they have a lot of uses in edible landscaping (they make excellent barrier hedges), and can make a stunning centerpiece in rock gardens or other drought tolerant landscapes.

Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), the elegant symbol of the southwestern US desert, has edible fruit when it's fully mature (which can take decades).

However, the saguaro plant itself is difficult to obtain, and is illegal to move without a permit in many areas.

If you have one growing on your property, congratulations!

The organ pipe cactus or ool (Stenocereus thurberi) resembles a saguaro but is smaller with "arms" that usually grow at the base of the plant, rather than farther up the main trunk.

It has lavender flowers and red fruit known as pitahaya dulce, about the size of a golf ball.

The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona (US) is full of these, and a visit is a wonderful way to see these lovely cacti in their native environment.

The barrel cactus fruit can be picked and eaten raw, and has no spines, making it the easiest to handle. The flowers and buds are also edible.

One of the legends of the American Wild West was that barrel cacti could be cut open and the pulp squeezed for water that would keep you alive in the deep desert. I've heard that barrel cactus juice doesn't taste very good but is better than dying of thirst!

The vine-like night-blooming cereus (Hylocereus), otherwise known as the "dragonfruit" or pitaya (and also called pitahaya dulce in some areas), is a cactus with long fleshy leaves and bright red or yellow fruit with a white or red center and black, crunchy seeds with high nutritional value. The plant has large, fragrant white flowers that only bloom at night.

Several species are also called "night-bloming cereus", such as Peniocereus greggii.

There are other cactus fruits called pitaya such as from the Peruvian Apple Cactus (Cereus repandus), which looks very different from Hylocereus, but also has sweet, brightly colored edible fruit.